The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-25

"n 20 them would not be
NSSJ Christmas without
y their tree, Santa Claus
Is and their gifts and NOR
rymaking. Tho English, OF whom there
are some four or five thousand, celebrate
in their regular fashion, with roast beef,
plum puddings, misllrtoe, games and re-
unions of families aud friends. The lew
American residents usually gather together
and do the best they can. With all these
nations Christmas is more a season OF uni
vcrsal gaycty and conyiyial pleasure, but
with such other nations rs make their
abiding places among the Turks Christmas
is solemn religious ceremony. Those who
believe in thcdivino nativity are the Arme-
mans, Catholics aud all who belong to the
orthodox Greek church. The Russian.
Greek and Bulgarian residents all belong
TO that church. The Catholic church
numbers the French and Italian worship
ems. Some of the Armenians are Catho-
lics, though n larger portion belong to the
sect which is nearly Catholic, but does not
recognize the Pope ~ the head OF the
church. Aside from these principal dlvis'
ions, there are several other religious secls
in Turkey, but as they do not recognize
Christmas as one-of their holidays, j
shall not mention them.
There is n deep feeling Of hatred among
the Greeks and Catholics, which is the
cause of many bitter feuds and fights dur
ing the celebration OF the Christmas scry-
ices, though they live togctherquitc peace
ably the rest OF the year; and woe TO the
Hebrew who finds himself in the way Of
or the other during the season OF these
holiday celebrations. Until the end OF the
reign Of Sultan Mahmoud, who annihi-
lated the Janissaries, no church dare hold
services after nightfall, nor christian had
courage enough 10 90, but now all the
churches hold their midnight services
under the protection Of the Turkish police,
and no n molests them unless II happens
that Greeks and Catholics meet, when a
iisticuff battle is certain.
by Greeks are meant not only those who
belong TO that nation, but all who are
members Of that church. Happily their
dreaded street encounters are rare, as they
happen seldom, except when their Thirst
mas, New Year and Epiphany tall upon
the same day. The Greek church COM
putos time by ono standard and the Cath
olics by another, and there Is n difference
Of twelve days; but somehow they do
fall exactly together sometimes and then
there is war, and often many persons are
killed.
Christmas with all these oriental races
who believe in the birth of Christ IL a most
solemn ceremony and not a day oi festive
rcjoicings as with ms. Four or five days
before their Christmas Eve the people go
to church To confess and receive commun-
ion. The day before Christmas Is a day
oi fastina. and they are allowed 10 eat
only certain thingS like black brad and
black olives and water, and they all are ex-
horlcd TO fast entirely II their physical
condition will permit II. Al IL o'clock nj
night every member ui n family, except
the sick and babes, must go 10 the service.
The church Is vast AMI without seats oX-
ccpt line Of benches which face the
middle of the church, near the altar. The
rich buy these seats by the year or in per
pctuity. The poor stand up. The main
iloor n for men, and the gallery Tor the
women. The fathers take the boys and
the mothers the girls. The gallery where
the sit Is entirely hidden from view
by a close lattice work, which In put there
to keep the attention Of the men from
wandering from their dcyotions.
In a Greek church there arr no wax fig.
urcs or statues Of any description. There
is usually n painting Of the Paniah, OF
Blessed Virgin, and sometimes one NJ the
Christ, aud the priest has a large %cruciixi
| but there arc no other symbols. There !.
a high priest drs-cd IN magnificent gold
brocadcd robes, with iowelcd breast plate
and collar, two deacons, several acolytcs, q
long train Of choir boy, and a sort Of sec,
ond priest, all Of tbsm dressed In the mos
magnificent robes for the Christmas scry.
ices. The boys carry large wax candles,
crnser. and little banners upon long poles
upon which are painted the blessed NiRir
and crosses. Al Of ihosc articles are %
gold and richly jewelel when practicable
The people sit or stand or fall upon
their knees ~ the Second priest mounts {
apiml stair Ia q pulpit spmc ten feet high
where ho reads the cyangcls In ancicn.
Gr,ck. which few Of the worshipcB nm
dcfstand. even when they arn Greek, ~
the modern Language differs ~ greatly
trnm the ancient A. uur language o
today from the early English. After th'
reading nf the cyangu's. the high prizes
below. from in front OF Inc altar. rccitcs IL
a s~nu.snng style the story OF the nativity
anil the choir boys torture the mir by III
most l~nguhrious hOwinrg which they cal
chanting. hut which u 100 must cxcruciat
inr torture To q Strangers cars. All VIII
arr pr,scnt must have l WAX taper, larg
or small, according ~ their means, an,
when the final moment has rome and IN.
prirs' chants loudly, THE Christ IL born
4 born in Bethlehem Tho heavens NJ
inicr aud ail the universe h gladl' ever
ono lights his or her toiFr and the Ecryic
II over. The men leave iirt, aud wait h
n sort of court iouthsir wives and iamilic
to appcnr. aud all o. home quietly, unlC.
thry hFrprn g;-an 4 unuI of Catholics VIII
ar, wing 60 their hous,- 10 the Simc tim,
When they mach h0mD they take the
plar.s around a table. where there II notl
ing hut dried fruits an nuts. The fruit
nr TICS. dates, mrins and candicd pear
ouinrcs. cherries, ctc Nnmc nutshclls ~
hrWn into each ~ thC -FOUR corners OF IN
MON. The next day b. .pcnt much ~ v
do Sunday, with high mlss Mt al OF III
churches. u .
Anrr church tlp fanli have ~ good
dinner as their mean, will allow, an
tbon they visit among their friends; hut
l. q rubduod c~hocrbilnr-a, with nothir
cheerful about H. Ther Is no giving
presents nj all NJ thnsimas the who
Thing r,4olycs itself into a religious Ger
mony. which has nothing about Il OF n
tenderness and beauty II our Christina
day. II IL more OF a marvellous pvclatio
of divinity, something awc-omo and va
phipml. The Armenian Catholics, m
even all the other memlcrs OF the Caihol
churches In Turkey, do not mako OF Chris
mas q day Of icashne OF giycty, but ngal
II, ~ 10 the others WIN 4 sombcr ~
emnity: ~ that thfi-inlas in that count
Il very distressing particularly to \ HON
sick foreigner.
49, howeyef Ia onItn anoihl